A message from Dr. Shea regarding Early Voting

Dear Deacs, 

As you prepare for midterms and fall break, I want to share some exciting news with you! As you know, election season is here, and Deacs Decide, our non-partisan effort on campus, has been working diligently to provide the student body with resources, events, and support to create opportunities for you to be engaged at the local, state and national levels. Your vote is important, and I hope you will take the time to use your voice. 

Thursday, October 17, marks the beginning of One-Stop Early Voting in North Carolina! Until November 2, you can register to vote, update your registration, and cast a ballot—all at once at any early voting site in Forsyth County. Polo Park Community Center is the closest early voting site to the Rynolda campus.

We want to make voting as easy as possible, so Deacs Decide has teamed up with Parking and Transportation Services to offer rides to the polls! You will be able to catch the Deacon Station Shuttle Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. during Early Voting. Check out everything you need to know below, and get ready to cast your vote.

If you only make it this far, here are a few key takeaways:

  1. Check your voter registration status before heading out for Early Voting
  2. If you are registering to vote or need to update your registration – bring a hard copy of your Proof of Residency with you.
  3. Bring your DeaconOne Card with you! In North Carolina, voters are now required to show an ID before casting their ballot. Lucky for you – your DeaconOne card is a valid form of ID.

See below for everything else that you need to know to cast your vote.  

Have questions or need more info? Our team in the Office of Civic & Community Engagement (OCCE) is here to help! Visit the OCCE in Benson 506, or check out our non-partisan resources through TurboVote.

I look forward to seeing you at the polls! 

Shea Kidd Brown
Vice President for Campus Life
Early Voting Information for WFU Students

Early Voting Dates & Times

  • Thurs.-Fri., Oct. 17-18: 8 a.m.– 7:30 p.m.
  • Sat., Oct. 19: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Sun., Oct. 20: 1 p.m.- 5 p.m.
  • Mon.-Fri., Oct. 21-25: 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
  • Sat., Oct. 26: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Sun., Oct. 27: 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
  • Mon.-Fri., Oct. 28-Nov.1: 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
  • Sat., Nov. 2: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Polo Park Community Center

*Remember, you can vote at any Forsyth County Early Voting site. Polo Park Community Center is closest to campus! Find the full list of sites here.

Proof of Residency

If you are registering for the first time or updating your registration during one-stop voting, bring Proof of Residency (bring hard copies with you). Whether you live on or off-campus, we’ve got you covered:

On-Campus Housing

  1. Login into the WFU housing portal
  2. On the home page, select the “Information Update” process.
  3. On the landing page, select “Proof of Residency” from the dropdown menu.
  4. Confirm your housing for Fall 2024 is correct. 
  5. Click “PRINT THIS PAGE” at the bottom of the page to print and/or save your Proof of Residency. 
  6. Bring your Proof of Residency and DeaconOne Card with you. 

Off-Campus Housing

  1. Bring your mail
    • A current utility bill, bank statement, paystub, or any other government document showing your name and address is enough (a card from your parent won’t cut it).
    • If you pay your bills electronically or get paid via direct deposit, print out a hard copy and bring it with you.

Useful Information

  • Photo ID Requirement: In the state of North Carolina, you now need to show a photo ID to vote in the 2024 election. If you are not a North Carolina resident, your DeaconOne Card will serve as your photo ID. 
  • Vote at Any Forsyth County Site: Any student who is eligible to vote can do so at this or any other Forsyth County site during one-stop voting, regardless of your precinct on Election Day. You can find a list of all one-stop voting sites in Forsyth County here.*
    • *To vote in Winston-Salem during one-stop voting, students need to be registered to vote in Forsyth County or update their registration during one-stop voting in Forsyth County.
    • If you want to vote on Election Day, you will need to go to your designated polling place, which you can find here. 
  • Mail-In Ballot? Changed Your Mind? If you requested a mail-in ballot but would rather vote in person, you can. 
    • In North Carolina, as long as you did not fill out or send back a mail-in ballot, you can change your mind and vote in person instead. We recommend voting during the early voting period so that if you need to update your registration, you can.
    • If you requested an absentee/mail-in ballot from another state, please check with your state’s Board of Elections or your local election office. 
  • No Ballot Selfies: In North Carolina, it’s illegal to snap a picture of your completed ballot. We know you are excited — for some of you, it may be your first time voting in a presidential election! Snap a picture with your “I Voted” sticker instead of your ballot.
  • Stay in Line: If you are in line when the polls close, you legally have the right to vote. If anyone tells you otherwise, do not leave your spot in line and call the North Carolina Election Protection Hotline at 888-687-8683.
  • What’s on the ballot? Check out the Forsyth County Sample Ballot!

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